Medications Used To Treat Opioid Addiction/ Dependency
METHADONE- Methadone treatment provides the opiate addicted person with personalized health care, comprehensive social and rehabilitation services, and medically prescribed methadone medication to relieve withdrawal symptoms, reduce opiate craving, and allow normalization of the body’s biochemical balance and physiological function. When used appropriately, it is the “gold standard” of opioid addiction treatment.
BUPRENORPHINE- Brand names Subutex or Suboxone (w/naloxone), is an opioid partial agonist. This means that, although it is an opioid, its maximal effects are less than those of full opioids. At low doses it produces sufficient effect to enable individuals to stop the misuse of opioids without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone and Buprenorphine assist to relieve withdrawal symptoms and curtail the desire to use illicit drugs such as heroin, oxycontin, hydrocodone and other prescription pain relievers.
These medications are not a cure, but they do allow an individual time to become a responsible human being and join society by establishing a normal lifestyle. The treatment is beneficial both to society and the individual. Society is protected in that the individual no longer has to partake in illegal activity to support a daily drug habit. Treatment helps the individual by allowing the opportunity to stop illegal activities and high risk behaviors that lead to disease.